Alleged ₦5.2bn Fraud: Ex-JAMB Registrar, ICPC Pursue Settlement Once More
A former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dibu Ojerinde, alongside the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), have reached a consensus to resolve the ₦5.2 billion case outside of court.
Ojerinde’s legal representative, Eteya Ogana, apprised Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja shortly after the case was called.
Ogana stated that although the proceedings were adjourned for the defence to present their case today, there was a new development as both parties were deliberating on the possibility of an administrative settlement.
He requested, in light of this, “a long adjournment post-vacation to facilitate an update on this matter.”
ICPC’s counsel, Lesie Iheduru, affirmed Ogana’s statement, noting that discussions pertaining to reconciliation were ongoing.
Consequently, Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter until October 20 for a report on the settlement or the defence.
In February 2022, Ojerinde had sought a plea bargain with the anti-corruption commission before negotiations fell through.
He was arraigned on an 18-count charge in July 2021 by the commission, accused of corruption and fraud during his tenure at the National Examinations Council (NECO) and JAMB.
However, he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
On June 10, Justice Egwuatu dismissed Ojerinde’s no-case submission and mandated him to present his defence.
The former JAMB registrar, through his lawyer, contended that there was no case to answer, arguing that the prosecution had not established a prima facie case against him.
He, therefore, entreated the court to dismiss the charges.
This development followed the commission’s presentation of witnesses and the closure of its case against the defendant.
However, the ICPC argued that it had substantiated its allegations against Ojerinde.
The prosecution insisted that the commission had established its case and requested the court to mandate him to enter his defence.
In his ruling, the judge determined that the elements of the offence charged against Ojerinde had been identified by the ICPC’s witnesses, necessitating a defence from the defendant.
The ICPC alleged that Ojerinde committed numerous fraudulent acts while presiding over NECO and JAMB.
He was accused of offenses involving abuse of office and the fraudulent diversion of funds from government coffers amounting to ₦5.2 billion.
According to the proof of evidence presented to the court by the ICPC’s lawyer, Ebenezer Shogunle, the commission accused him of conferring corrupt advantages upon himself at various times during his tenure as the Registrar and Chief Executive of JAMB and NECO.
The commission asserted that these actions contravened Sections 19, 24, 25 (1) (a) and (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and Section 1 (1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006.11
